Endings & Beginnings

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Thought of the Week: September 25, 2022

 

Thought of the Week: September 18, 2022

 

7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Bring Empathic Communication to the Digital World

 The next time you digitally communicate when emotions are high, try using one of these:

• Allow the other person to finish their thoughts before responding
• Reflect their feelings and words before expressing your own
• Clearly state your intent: be specific

~ Stephen R. Covey

Our Advocate

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:1-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Faith vs Works

"But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
‭‭James‬ ‭2:18-19, 24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Faith & Works

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
‭‭James‬ ‭2:14-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Mercy triumphs

"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it…So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
‭‭James‬ ‭2:8-10, 12-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What is Religion?

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
‭‭James‬ ‭1:26-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Doers of the Word

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
‭‭James‬ ‭1:22-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Slow to Anger

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
‭‭James‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Avoid Autobiographical Listening

 "Do I listen with the intent to reply, rather than to understand?"

            ~ Stephen R. Covey

Consistent Gift

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
‭‭James‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Thought of the Week: September 5, 2022

 

Steadfast

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
‭‭James‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Walk as Wise

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Direction

"Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
‭‭James‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Ready?

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,"
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Lamp

"For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,"
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬